Supporting Student Innovation: How PCB Power Enabled DJS Antariksh’s Rover for International Rover Challenge 2026
Introduction: Engineering for Extreme Environments
Building a rover for Mars-like terrain is not just about innovation. It is about reliability under pressure, precision in execution, and seamless integration of multiple complex systems.
At the International Rover Challenge 2026, teams from across the world push the boundaries of robotics, automation, and system design. Among them, DJS Antariksh from Dwarkadas J. Sanghvi College of Engineering, Mumbai, has consistently stood out for its engineering excellence and global achievements.
For their 2026 rover build, the team developed a highly integrated electronics system where a custom multi-layer PCB played a central role. PCB Power supported this build by delivering manufacturing precision that enabled the system to perform reliably during testing and execution.
Supporting Student Innovation
As part of its initiative to support student-led engineering projects, PCB Power collaborated with DJS Antariksh for their 2026 rover build.
Student teams working on competitive robotics often operate under tight timelines and resource constraints. Reliable manufacturing support becomes critical in ensuring that design efforts translate into functional hardware without delays or rework.
In this project, PCB Power contributed by enabling the fabrication of a custom multi-layer PCB that formed the foundation of the rover’s electronic system.
The Challenge: Integrating Multiple Subsystems into One Platform
The rover required a central control system capable of coordinating multiple subsystems simultaneously. This meant bringing together sensing, processing, communication, and power distribution into a single, compact architecture.
In a competition environment, there is little room for iteration once hardware is deployed. Any instability at the PCB level can directly impact system performance during testing and final execution.
At the core of this system was a custom-designed multi-layer PCB responsible for:
- Interfacing multiple Teensy microcontroller modules
- Managing sensor and navigation data
- Supporting Jetson-based communication systems
- Controlling relays and actuator systems
- Enabling communication between robotic arm, payload, and onboard computing
The complexity was not just in the number of components, but in ensuring that all these subsystems worked together without signal loss, power instability, or synchronization issues.
Where PCB Power Came In
PCB Power supported the team by manufacturing the custom multi-layer PCB based on their design requirements.
The focus was on delivering a board that could reliably handle:
- High-density interconnections across multiple subsystems
- Stable signal routing for synchronized operations
- Consistent power distribution across controllers and modules
- Accurate mechanical alignment for connectors and interfaces
This PCB became the backbone of the rover’s electronics architecture, enabling all subsystems to communicate and function as a unified system.
The Manufacturing Story: Precision That Enables Performance
For a system like this, manufacturing quality directly impacts real-world performance.
The PCB had to support complex routing while maintaining electrical reliability across multiple functional blocks. Precision in fabrication ensured that signal paths remained consistent and interference-free, while strong pad integrity supported reliable component mounting.
The final board delivered:
- Clean finishing and well-defined traces
- Accurate multilayer alignment across the design
- Strong pad and connector integrity
- Reliable build quality suitable for repeated testing cycles
During rover testing and task execution, the PCB enabled smooth system operation across critical functions such as navigation, sensing, actuator coordination, and payload interaction.
Most importantly, the board performed without any fabrication-related issues, allowing the team to focus entirely on system performance rather than hardware troubleshooting.
Performance in Action: Supporting Rover Operations
Acting as the central integration layer, the PCB enabled the rover to:
- Execute navigation tasks with stable communication between modules
- Process sensor data efficiently
- Coordinate actuators and robotic arm movement
- Handle payload interaction operations reliably
The system operated smoothly during testing phases, with no interruptions caused by hardware inconsistencies.
What This Meant for the Team
Reliable hardware plays a critical role in competitive robotics, where even minor issues can impact performance.
The team shared:
“The manufacturing quality delivered by PCB Power exceeded our expectations. The fabricated board arrived with excellent finishing, precise routing, strong pad integrity, and perfect alignment across connectors and multilayer traces.”
“Most importantly, the PCB worked flawlessly during testing and integration without any fabrication-related issues.”
What This Means for PCB Power
Projects like this highlight the importance of precision manufacturing in enabling complex, real-world engineering systems.
When multiple subsystems depend on a single platform, consistency and reliability become non-negotiable. Supporting teams like DJS Antariksh reflects a broader commitment to enabling innovation where performance matters most.
From multi-layer PCB builds to application-critical systems, the goal remains the same: delivering manufacturing that performs as expected when it matters.
At PCB Power, we believe in supporting student-led innovation and enabling the next generation of engineers to build systems that perform in real-world conditions.
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